Illimis new releases

Lucinda Heyns’s day job involves viticultural knowledge transfer for research body Winetech so no surprise that she gets to discover interesting vineyards to supply her with grapes for the wines she makes under her own label called Illimis. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Illimis Chenin Blanc 2021
Price: R250
Grapes from an Elgin vineyard on shale. Spontaneously fermented and matured for eight months in older oak. Pear, peach, apple and some smoky reduction on the nose. The palate is pure and direct. With bright acidity and a pithy finish, it comes across as extremely tightly wound currently – needs six to 12 months to unfurl.

Buy from PORT2PORT

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Illimis Cinsault 2021
Price: R200
Grapes from a Darling vineyard planted in 1974. 90% whole-bunch fermentation. Appealing aromatics of cherry, cranberry, pomegranate and Turkish Delight. Light-bodied with zippy acidity and very fine tannins, nicely savoury on the finish – a delicate yet layered wine.

Buy from PORT2PORT

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Illimis Grenache 2021
Price: R230
Grapes from Wellington. 90% whole-bunch fermentation. Raspberry ad wild strawberry plus some subtle notes of white pepper and spice. The palate is juicy and round (alcohol is 14.5%) with moderate acidity and a little tug of tannin on the finish.

Buy from PORT2PORT

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Illimis Pinotage 2021
Price: R215
NEW. Grapes from Karibib farm in Polkadraai Hills. 100% whole-bunch fermentation. Enchanting aromatics of flowers, herbs, cherries and plums while the palate has a dense core of fruit, bright acidity and crunchy tannins. It’s a wine of excellent clarity and balance with nothing coarse or astringent about, the finish long and saline.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.